Don’t buy
someone else’s problem.
The exact 60-point pre-purchase inspection checklist I run on every used Audi before a single dollar changes hands. Print it, clip it to a board, take it to the driveway.
10 Sections. Zero Guesswork.
Before You Go
History report, open recalls, service records — do this from your couch before you waste a Saturday.
Paperwork & Identity
Title match, VIN check, key count. Catch a curbstone or a rolled-back clock before you fall in love.
Exterior Walk-Around
Panel gaps, paint match, the magnet test. Every past accident leaves a tell.
Tires, Wheels & Brakes
Tread, rotors, date codes. Deferred maintenance is a bargaining chip if you know where to look.
Interior Deep Dive
Press every button. Every dash light should come on, then go out.
Under the Hood
Leaks, oil condition, belts. Milky oil under the cap ends the conversation.
Cold Start & Idle
The moment of truth. A cold rattle can mean a very expensive tensioner job.
The Road Test
20 minutes, mixed roads. Shifts, turbo behavior, quattro check.
OBD-II Scan
Your secret weapon. Pending codes reveal what hasn’t tripped a light yet.
The Non-Negotiable PPI
Book it. Use it as leverage. If they refuse — that’s your answer.
8 Instant Deal-Breakers
Any one of these means walk — no matter how clean the car looks or how good the price is. The full checklist gives you all eight, plus how to spot each one.
- Milky or frothy oil (head gasket)
- Continuous white or blue exhaust smoke
- Transmission slams, slips, or hits limp mode
- Seller refuses a cold start or a PPI
I once scanned a “perfect” Q5 and my OBD reader pulled a hidden thermostat code the seller “forgot” about — no light on yet, but it was coming. That scan saved me from an overheating nightmare and handed me the negotiation.
There is always
another Audi.
Being willing to walk away is your superpower. Get the checklist that makes it easy.